Towing device



Sept. 30, 1952 J. A. MANDERS K 2,612,383

TOWING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, A1950 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED, 1 2,612,383 l Y .'rovvING DEVICE- John- Manders', Minneapolis, wageningen# 21 en are; Ne iger This invention has relation to a new and im:- proved towing device for vehiclesincluding' a rst gripper for detachable connection to 'a bumper of a vehicle to. be propelled, la second gripper for detachable'connectifon to' a bumper of a propelling vehicle, and al cable o r sol-called tow chain connected. lofetween'said firstf-andl second grippers.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a towing Idevice including the features and `chara-c teris tics of the invention as when applied 'to' use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational View of either of a pair of grippers of the towing ldevice of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view, partially in section and partially broken away, of tir-agripper disclosed in Fig. 2 as it would lappearff'r-m the left lwith the bumper removed-f Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, partially in section and partially broken away, of the disclosure of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken as on line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

With respect to Fig. 1 of the drawing and the numerals of reference thereon, I denotes a vehicle to be propelled, II indicates a propelling vehicle, and I2 represents a towing device made according to the invention. Said towing device is constituted as a first gripper I3 detachably connected to ia bumper I4 of said vehicle I0 toy be propelled, Ia second gripper I detachably connected to a bumper I6 of said propelling vehicle, `and a cable or so-called tow chain I'I connected between s-aid first and second grippers I3 and I5.

The first and second grippers I3 and I5 are 'duplicates in the disclosure as made. That is, each of said first and second grppers .is .of construction as disclosed in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, and now to be set forth.

Complemental grip elements of each of the first and second grippers I3 and I5 are designated IB and I9, respectively. Each of the grip elements I8 and I9 consists of rigid material, desirably metal.

The Igrip elements I8 and I9 of leach gripper are duplicates. Each grip element is constituted as a curvilinear intermediate length 20, a hook portion 2I at one end of, substantially in perpendicular relation to and extending from a concave side of said curvilinear length, and an attachment portion 22 at the other end of, substantially in perpendicular relation to and exi iaim. (rc1. 2st- 3314) tending from a convex side of; the curvilinear l'er'i'gti'i'.vv the"'co`mpleinental grip'.. ele= ments of each' gripper are'interconnected, the manner as' hereinafter' described; the'y curvi-y linearl intermediate linguistic; -42u -aiemft'he same plane transversely lof the corresponding gripper, as are also the hook'portioiis'2lf, I2| and; the attachment portions '22, 122", -respectively'. Also, saidho'ok port-ions 21'; 2-'I'r yareQn:opposedl facingfrelation and said attachmentA portions 22',

2.2 arein adjacent-, parallel relation'fas l'clearly are interconnected.

especial" link p23 of gash gripper interconne'icts the 'corresponding gripper with theadia;`

'tight A2.41 of tre Scalfari-sig ,afattra apes flirtion of the piece of wire interiorly, and an interiorly facing second hook 26 of the special link, at the third apex thereof, is provided by shaping or bending the other end portion of said piece of wire interiorly. The interiorly facing first and second hooks 25 and 26 arein adjacent relation, and there is a clearance between said first and second hooks, at the end of each special link opposite its bight 24, to permit assembly of the adjacent endmost common link of the cable or tow chain I'I with said bight 24. The manner of assembly of each special link with said cable or tow chain will be apparent from the disclosure of the drawing.

The first and second hooks 25 and 26 of each special link are situated in atwise fashion between the :attachment portions 22, 22 of the cori responding gripper, I3 or I5, vas the case may mediate lengths adjacent the hook portions 2l f are indicated 30.

A tension coil spring 3| of each gripper re.

silientlyconnects the grip elements thereof. The opposite ends of each tension coil spring are connected to lugs 32 inwardly struck from the curvilinear lengths 20 of the grip elements of the corresponding gripper. As disclosed, the lugs 32 are situated between the strengthening ribs 29 in alined relation transversely of the corresponding gripper and in somewhat closer relation to the attachment portions 22 Athantc the hook portions 2|.

' .The manner in which the towing device is put to use will be apparent. The grip elements of the grippers will be manually swung apart against resiliency of the tension coil springs 3i, the hook portions 2l of one of said grippers will be fitted over and to the bumper of a vehicle to be propelled and the hook portions 2l of the other gripper will be fitted over and to the bumperof a propelling vehicle; The construction and arrangement will be such that the tensioncoil springs 3I4wil1 retain the grip elements upon the bumpers',- in the manner as very clearly disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, with the rubber pads 30 in proximate relation to upper and lower surfaces of said bumpers and said hook portions 2 1 back of and in horizontal alinement with the Ale of this patent:

interior surfaces of the bumpers. It will be evi-V dent that the grippers can be readily and easily' removed from the bumpers merely by manuallyv swinging the grip elements apart against resilient i action of the tension coil springs.

What is claimed is: A gripper for detachably connecting a tow chain to a vehicle bumper, comprising complemental grip elements each constituted as a length of rigid material having a hook portion and an attachment portion at opposite ends, respectively, thereof, a special link providing first and second hooks situated between and in proximate relation to the attachment portions of said grip elements and a bight situated at a side of said attachment portions opposite the lengths of the grip elements assembled with a link of said tow chain, rivets in said attachment portions and said first and second hooks securing the attachment portions to each other and to.

said special link, with ythe hook portions of said grip elements extending interiorly and disposed in opposed, facing, spaced relation, for limited swinging movement of the grip elements toward and away from each other, and a'tension spring interconnecting intermediate portions of said lengths of said grip elements.

JOHN A. MANDERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,157,612 Kirk May 9, 1939 2,196,117 Lange v Apr. 2, 1940 2,435,813 Williams Feb. 10, 1948 2,494,526 Tungett et al. Jan. 10, 1950 2,568,425

Weeks et al Sept. 18, 1951 are of record in ther 

